Award winning Indian American scientist’s research focuses on organic agriculture, certification, and crop science
Dr. Dilip Nandwani, an Indian American professor at Tennessee State University in Nashville. has been appointed to the scientist seat on the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) for a five year term through January 2027.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the appointment of Nandwani, who holds a PhD in Botany and has 10-years of teaching experience, with a focus on organic agriculture, certification, and crop science, with three other new members Friday.
The NOSB is made up of 15 volunteer members representing the organic community. It assists USADA in developing standards for substances used in organic production and to advise on aspects of the National Organic Program.
“Members of the National Organic Standards Board serve a vital role listening to what the public has to say and weighing recommendations for updates to the organic standards through open, transparent and collaborative processes,” said Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt.
“Over the next five years, these new appointees will add their experience to help USDA provide farmers and handlers with the tools they need to meet consumer demand for organic products, and they will help ensure that organic is a part of efforts to build a more climate-smart, resilient, and equitable food system.”
Read: Biden to name Indian American soil scientist Rattan Lal for key role (January 17, 2022)
Three other members appointed Friday were: Elizabeth (Liz) Graznak (Missouri) to an environmental protection and resource conservation seat, Allison Johnson (California) to a public interest or consumer interest group seat and Javier Zamora (California) to a farmer seat.
Nandwani has been working with Land Grant institutions for over two decades in agricultural research, extension and teaching. He has published over 130 articles in the area of organic agriculture, sustainable horticulture, crop production and improvement, micropropagation, cultivar evaluations of fruits, vegetables and root crops.
He is Certified Professional Horticulturist (CPH) from the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) and editor of three books (Sustainable Horticultural Systems, Organic Farming for Sustainable Agriculture and Urban Horticulture-Sustainability for the Future).
Nandwani is board member of Tennessee Organic Growers Association (TOGA). He has received several awards, including “Award of Excellence” from the Western Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors and most recent one is “Faculty Engaged Scholar” from the Center for Service Learning & Civic Engagement.
Nandwani’s research interests include sustainable agriculture, vegetable production specialist (organic & conventional), grafting fruit trees and micropropagation.